Discharge nozzles for hairdryers

ABSTRACT

Hairdryer discharge nozzles are disclosed herein. In several embodiments, hairdryer discharge nozzles can include a nozzle main body having a nozzle flow pathway extending from a nozzle inlet port to a nozzle discharge port. The nozzle inlet port can be releasably attached to an air-supplying port of a hairdryer. The hairdryer discharge nozzle can include a plurality of pin bodies protruding from the nozzle discharge port and directed in an air discharge direction such that tips of the pin bodies are configured to contact a user&#39;s scalp. The hairdryer discharge nozzle can be configured to reliably blow air from the hairdryer to dry hair, while also performing various other operations, such as teasing hair using the pin bodies, adjusting the drape of the hair, and/or massaging a user&#39;s scalp with the pin bodies.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to Japanese Utility Model Application No. 2013-002637 (now Japanese Utility Model Registration U 130514), filed May 14, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to hair styling tools. In particular, several embodiments are directed to a hairdryer discharge nozzle for drying and styling hair.

BACKGROUND

Hairdryers typically include a heater that warms air along a blown air path extending from an air inlet port to an air-supplying port of a hairdryer. The stream of air (e.g., hot air or cold air) exits the hairdryer from the air-supplying port to dry and/or style hair. For example, hairdryers can be used to blow air against hair while using a comb, brush, or fingers to tease the hair from the base of the head and adjust the style, position, or texture of the hair. However, it can be difficult to sufficiently circulate the air blown from the hairdryer to the base of the hair, even when using an additional tool (e.g., a comb, brush, or fingers), and therefore the blow drying procedure can be time consuming. Discharge nozzles can be attached to air-supplying ports of hairdryers, such as those described in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3175257.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a hairdryer with a hairdryer discharge nozzle configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a hairdryer discharge nozzle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away top view of the hairdryer discharge nozzle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the hairdryer discharge nozzle of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology is directed toward hairdryer discharge nozzles. Specific details of several embodiments of the technology are described below with reference to FIGS. 1-4. Other well-known structures and systems often associated with hairdressing tools and hair styling tools have not been shown or described in detail below to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the various embodiments of the disclosure. Although many of the embodiments are described below with respect to drying hair, other applications and other embodiments in addition to those described herein are within the scope of the technology. Additionally, several other embodiments of the technology can have different configurations, components, or methods than those described herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art, therefore, will accordingly understand that the technology can have other embodiments with additional elements, or the technology can have other embodiments without several of the features shown and described below with reference to FIGS. 1-4.

Many of the details, dimensions, functions and other features shown and described in conjunction with the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions, functions and features without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that further embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced without several of the details described below.

As used herein, a multi-element mineral refers to a mineral that that includes a well-balanced mixture of multiple elements, such as pearlite and pitchstone. Multi-element minerals can include silicon as a major component (e.g., tourmaline). In addition, multi-element minerals are known to emit negative ions. Multi-element minerals can be formed into a powder by pulverizing the multi-element mineral (e.g., using a ball mill and/or other grinding mechanism). In certain embodiments, pulverization of the multi-element mineral can form particles having diameters of about 1-3 microns. In other embodiments, the pulverized multi-element mineral can have larger or smaller diameters. The multi-element mineral powder may be used alone or in combination with other multi-element mineral powders. In various embodiments, the multi-element mineral powder may be used as a powder, whereas in other embodiments, the multi-element mineral powder may be mixed with water, heated, and compressed to form a powder by vacuum drying or spray drying of the supernatant. The components of one such multi-element mineral powder, perlite, are listed below in table 1.

TABLE 1 Quartz (SiO₂) 71.94% Aluminum Oxide (Al₂O₃) 14.94% Iron Oxide (Fe₂O₃) 2.54% Magnesium Oxide (MgO) 0.44% Calcium Oxide (CaO) 2.47% Alkali Metal Oxide (K₂O + Na₂O) 6.87% Manganese Oxide (MnO) 0.03% Anhydrous Phosphoric Acid (P₂O₅) 0.14% Loss on Ignition 3.43% Loss on Drying (at 110°) 0.07% Other, Titanium Trace

Multi-element mineral powders can emit electromagnetic waves (weak or subtle energy) of about 4-14 μm that electrically charge the periphery of the nuclei of the various elements, causing the atoms to become excited (e.g., vibrate). As a result, water cluster bonding is cut or shortened, the volume of the water contracts, specific gravity increases, sufficient water (free water) is attached to the outer cell membranes of plants and animals, and/or water permeation is promoted into the cell together with calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Ca²⁺). This is expected to activate various functions of the cell. Accordingly, when the electromagnetic waves (weak energy) hits a person's hair and/or scalp, it mineralizes the moisture within the hair and scalp, and activates proteins in the hair and scalp, thereby producing healthy and glossy hair.

Far infrared radiation emitting powder can be made from a powder of far infrared radiation emitting material composed of alumina (Al₂O₃), titania (TiO₂), ferrite (Fe₂O₃), chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃), silica (SiO₂), yittria (Y₂O₃), magnesia (MgO), and/or other suitable far infrared radiation emitting material. These far infrared radiation emitting powders can be used as a blend that emits far infrared radiation of a wavelength that is suitable for the hair and scalp.

In various embodiments of the present technology, multi-element minerals and/or far infrared radiation emitting powders can be kneaded and/or molded into a specific shape to form a main body portion of a discharge nozzle and/or pin bodies of the discharge nozzle. In other embodiments, multi-element mineral powders and/or far infrared radiation emitting powders can be blended in a coating agent, and the coating agent can be applied as a coating layer to a portion of a hairdryer discharge nozzle. The coating layer can be a ceramic coating layer, a plated layer, a fluorocarbon coating layer, a nylon layer, a synthetic resin layer, a silicone rubber layer, a fluorocarbon rubber layer, and/or another suitably type of coating layer.

Overview

Hairdryer discharge nozzles disclosed herein can include a plurality of pin bodies at a discharge port of the discharge nozzle. The discharge nozzle can be attached to an air-supply port of a hairdryer, and the pin bodies can be used to tease hair to provide volume from the base of the hair and/or adjust the drape of the hair. The hairdryer nozzle disclosed herein is configured to reliably blow air from the hairdryer while teasing the hair, and provide both a hair drying function and blow setting function effectively over a relatively short time period. In certain embodiments, the discharge nozzle can massage the scalp using the pin bodies. In addition, the discharge nozzle may be configured to style hair while also emitting weak or subtle energy via a mineral powder and/or emitting far infrared radiation from a far infrared emitting powder to increase blood circulation in the scalp.

In certain embodiments, a hairdryer can include a heater positioned along a blown air pathway that extends from an air inlet port to an air-supplying port. A hairdryer discharge nozzle can be removably attached to the air-supplying port, and can include a nozzle main body. The main body can have a nozzle flow path that extends from a nozzle flow inlet port removably attached to the air-supplying port of the hairdryer to a nozzle discharge port. The hairdryer discharge nozzle can also include a plurality of pin bodies positioned at the nozzle discharge port. The pin bodies can protrude outwardly away from the nozzle main body in the direction of the air discharge direction so as to protrude from the nozzle discharge port. Thus, the distal tips of the pin bodies can contact a person's scalp.

In other embodiments, a hairdryer discharge nozzle can be configured for use with a hairdryer having a heater arranged in an air pathway that extends from an air inlet port and an air-supplying port, and further having an ion blown air pathway equipped with a plasma ion generator branching from the blown air pathway. The hairdryer discharge nozzle can be removably attached to the air-supplying port of the hairdryer. The hairdryer discharge nozzle can include a nozzle main body having a nozzle flow path that extends from a nozzle flow inlet port (removably attached to the air-supplying port of the hairdryer) to a nozzle discharge port, and a plurality of pin bodies protrudingly arranged at the nozzle discharge port. The discharge nozzle can have an ion blown air nozzle flow pathway that extends from an ion blown air-supplying port at the distal end of the ion blown air path in the nozzle main body. The ion blow air nozzle flow pathway may be configured such that the discharged air from the ion blown air nozzle port flows in the same direction with the blown discharge from the nozzle discharge port and mixes therewith. The pin bodies can be arranged in the air discharge direction so as to protrude from the nozzle discharge port so that the distal tips of the pin bodies are able to contact a person's scalp.

In various embodiments, one or more of the pin bodies include a pin-internal air pathway and a pin body supply air hole at the distal tip portion of each pin body that allow air to flow from the nozzle discharge port.

In certain embodiments, the nozzle main body and/or the pin bodies can include a multi-element mineral powder. The multi-element mineral powder can be formed by pulverization of a multi-element mineral. The nozzle main body and/or the pin bodies can also include a far infrared radiation emitting powder formed by pulverization of a far infrared radiation emitting material.

In operation, the hairdryer nozzle can reliably blow air from the hairdryer through the hairdryer nozzle to dry hair while also performing various styling operations, such as teasing the hair so that the hair stands from the base of the hair, adjusting the orientation of the hair to increase volume, and/or other styling functions. Thus, unlike typical operation of hairdryer that requires a user to hold the hairdryer in one hand and a comb or brush in the other to tease or otherwise style the hair, the hairdryer nozzle disclosed herein allows a person to easily dry his or her own hair while combing the base portion of the hair, and to blow dry the hair over a short time interval. In addition, the distal ends of the pin bodies can massage and thereby stimulate the user's scalp while the hair is combed by the pin bodies.

When the hairdryer nozzle is coupled to a hairdryer with a plasma ion generator, the hairdryer nozzle can blow ionized air that includes plasma ions. This is expected to facilitate moisture retention in the user's scalp and hair, and to provide an antibacterial and sterilization effect.

In embodiments including internal air pathways in the pin bodies, part of the discharged air from the nozzle discharge port can be blown through the air pathways of the pin bodies toward the base of the user's hair via the pin body supply air hole. This allows the hairdryer nozzle to effectively dry and blow set the hair.

When the hairdryer discharge nozzle includes a multi-element mineral powder in the nozzle main body and/or the pin bodies, the subtle/weak energy emitted from the multi-element mineral powder can increase blood circulation to the scalp, promote hair growth, and/or provide therapeutic benefits to the scalp. In addition, the multi-element mineral powder can also reduce static electricity that may be generated by the pin bodies when combing the hair. The negative ions generated by the multi-element mineral powder can enhance blood circulation in the hair and scalp. Moreover, the emission of negative ions can produce a clustering phenomenon, i.e., the ability to decrease size of a grouping of water molecules, thereby enhancing the gloss and moisture of the hair. For example, the negative ions can act on hair cuticles (e.g., glass-like fibers) to maintain a perpetually glossy state. This can be particularly effective for damaged and/or thin hair that is typically difficult to treat and style. Furthermore, embodiments of the discharge nozzle include far infrared radiation emitting powder, the far infrared radiation can warm hair and scalp from within. This may be therapeutic for the hair and enhance blood circulation in the scalp.

Selected Embodiments of Hairdryer Nozzles

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a hairdryer 9 (FIG. 1) and a hairdryer discharge nozzle 1 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. As shown in FIG. 1, the hairdryer 9 can include a body main body 90 having a heater (not shown) arranged along an air pathway that extends from an air inlet port 91 to an air-supplying port 92. The body main body 90 can be connected to a handle part or portion 93 that is configured to be gripped by a hand during use. The handle portion 93 can include a switch 94 or other actuator that can be manipulated to change the blown air between hot air and cold air, change the rate at which the air is blown from the air-supplying port 92, change the temperature of the hot air blown from the air-supplying port 92, and/or otherwise change the characteristics of the blown air. In various embodiments, the upper outer periphery of the body main body 90 of the hairdryer 9 can include an ion blown air pathway 96 that branches from the main blown air pathway. The ion blown air pathway 96 can include a plasma ion generator 95 and an ion blown air nozzle or port 97 at a distal portion of this ion blown air pathway 96 (e.g., directed in the same direction as the heated air pathway). In other embodiments, the ion blown air pathway can be positioned elsewhere on the hairdryer 9, or may be omitted.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the hairdryer discharge nozzle 1 can be removably attached to the air-supplying port 92 of the hairdryer 9. The hairdryer discharge nozzle 1 can include a nozzle main body 10 having a nozzle flow path 13 that extends from a nozzle flow inlet port 11 to a nozzle discharge port 12 at the distal portion of the nozzle main body 10. The nozzle flow inlet port 11 can be coupled to the air-supplying port 92 of the hairdryer 9 (as indicated by the arrow of FIG. 1). The nozzle main body 10 can be made from polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), silicone, another synthetic resin material, and/or other suitable materials.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the nozzle discharge port 12 can include an upper discharge port 12 a and a lower part discharge port 12 b. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper discharge port 12 a can include an oval-shaped opening (e.g., an oval opening extending laterally across the discharge nozzle 1), and the lower discharge port 12 b can include a semi-circular arc-shaped opening with the upper cord defined by the lower edge of this upper discharge port 12 a. In other embodiments, the upper and lower discharge ports 12 a and 12 b can have other suitable shapes. The lower discharge port 12 b can be configured to adjust the air flow balance flowing from the discharge nozzle 1 by dividing the air flow from the air-supplying port 92 of the hairdryer 9 with the upper discharge port 12 a. In other embodiments, the nozzle discharge port 12 can include a single port or opening, or can be partitioned into more than two discharge ports.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hairdryer discharge nozzle 1 can include an ion blown air nozzle pathway 14. This ion blown air nozzle pathway 14 can releasably attach to the distal portion of the ion blown air pathway 96 of the hairdryer 9 when the nozzle main body 10 is attached to the hairdryer 9. This allows ionized air to flow from the ion air-supplying port 97 through the ion blown air nozzle path 14 such that the ion blown air pathway 96 of the hairdryer is integrated with the nozzle main body 10. The distal end of the ion blown air pathway 14 includes an ion blown air nozzle port 15 that discharges ionized air such that it converges with the discharged air from the nozzle discharge port 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of pin bodies 3 can be positioned in a row extending laterally along the upper discharge port 12 a and protrude away from the nozzle main body 10 in the direction of the blown air. This configuration allows the distal tips or ends of the pin bodies 3 to contact a person's scalp during use. In the illustrated embodiment, the hairdryer discharge nozzle 1 includes four pin bodies 3, but in other embodiments the discharge nozzle 1 can include fewer than four pin bodies or more than four pin bodies 3. The pin bodies 3 can be made from a plastic material and a thermoplastic elastomer (e.g., PC+TPE). In other embodiments, the pin bodies 3 can be made from a flexible silicone rubber, ethylene propylene rubber (EPT), flexible polypropylene, polycarbonate, and/or other synthetic resin materials. To the extent the pin bodies 3 obstruct air from flowing through the upper discharge port 12 a, a sufficient amount of air can be discharged from the lower discharge port 12 b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of tubular members 16 can be positioned at the upper discharge port 12 a and arranged in a row extending laterally across the upper discharge port 12 a. The base portions of the pin bodies 3 can be fitted into the corresponding tubular members 16.

As further shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the interior part of the pin bodies 3 can be hollow and the pin bodies 3 can have substantially conical shapes that gradually narrow in diameter toward the distal tips of the pin bodies 3. The distal tips of the pin bodies 3 can be rounded such that they can gently contact the user's scalp. The hollow portions of the pin bodies 3 can define an internal air pathway 30 in each pin body 3. The internal air pathways 30 can direct air from the upper discharge port 12 a through pin body air supply holes 31 formed in the distal tip portions of the pin bodies 3. For example, each pin body 3 can include three air supply holes 31 disposed equally around the distal tip portion of the pin body 3 (i.e., every 120°). In other embodiments, however, the distal tip portions of the pin bodies 3 can include one, two, or more than three air supply holes 31 arranged in various positions on the distal tip portions of the pin bodies 3 to direct air through the internal air pathways 30 of the pin bodies 3, and/or the air supply holes 31.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pin bodies 3 may be arranged in a curved, comb-like pattern and have an arc-shape when viewed from above (e.g., that extends along a line N connecting the tips of the pin bodies 3). This configuration allows the pin bodies 3 to generally conform to the shape of a person's head. In other embodiments, the pin bodies 3 can be arranged in a different pattern. For example, the pin bodies 3 can be arranged in a triangular pattern, a square pattern, a polygonal pattern, a circular pattern, and/or a randomized pattern.

In various embodiments, the nozzle main body 10 and/or the pin bodies 3 can include a blended powder comprised of a multi-element mineral powder and a far infrared radiation emitting powder. The blended powder can be mixed into the material of the pin bodies 3 and/or molded therewith such that the pin bodies 3 themselves include the blended powder. The blended powder can also be formed into a coating, and a layer of the coating can be applied on an inner surface of the nozzle main body 10. For example, the coating layer can be formed by adding the blended powder to heat resistant coating agent (e.g., Formica), applying a paint-like mixture to the nozzle main body 10, heating the nozzle main body 10 to cause the coating agent bake. In certain embodiments, the proportion of the blended powder to the heat resistance coating agent (e.g., Formica) is about 3-15% by volume. In other embodiments, the proportion of the blended powder to the coating agent may differ. In further embodiments, the aforementioned coating layer can be applied to the pin bodies 3 and/or the blended powder can be incorporated into the nozzle main body 10 using other suitable methods (e.g., mixing the blended powder with the material of the nozzle main body 10).

In operation, the hairdryer discharge nozzle reliably blows air from the hairdryer 9, while also performing various other operations. For example, the pin bodies 3 can be used to tease hair, create volume at the base of the hair, and/or adjust the way the falls on a person's head (i.e., the drape of the hair). The hairdryer discharge nozzle 1 can also effectively dry and blow set hair in an efficient manner. In addition, the pin bodies 3 can be used to massage the scalp. Furthermore, the hairdryer discharge nozzle 1 can also provide therapeutic effects to hair using the far infrared radiation from the far infrared radiation emitting powder and/or the energy emitted from the multi-element mineral powder. The far infrared radiation and/or the weak energy emissions can also increase blood circulation in the scalp.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Aspects of the invention described in the context of particular embodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and no embodiment need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims. 

I/We claim:
 1. A hairdryer discharge nozzle for a hairdryer, wherein the hairdryer has a heater arranged along a blown air pathway extending from an air inlet port to an air-supplying port, the hairdryer discharge nozzle comprising: a nozzle main body having a nozzle flow pathway extending from a nozzle flow inlet port to a nozzle discharge port, wherein the nozzle flow inlet port is configured to be releasably attached to the air-supplying port of the hairdryer; and a plurality of pin bodies protrudingly arranged at the nozzle discharge port, wherein the pin bodies protrude in an air discharge direction so as to protrude from the nozzle discharge port, and wherein the pin bodies include distal tips configured to contact a user's scalp, wherein the hairdryer discharge nozzle is configured to be releasably attached to the air-supplying port.
 2. The hairdryer discharge nozzle of claim 1 wherein at least one of the pin bodies includes a pin-internal air pathway extending through an interior of the pin body, and wherein the pin-internal air pathway is configured to receive air from the nozzle discharge port and discharge air through a pin body supply air hole at a distal tip portion of the pin-internal air pathway.
 3. The hairdryer discharge nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a multi-element mineral powder in the nozzle main body and/or the pin bodies, wherein the multi-element mineral powder is formed by pulverization of a multi-element mineral.
 4. The hairdryer discharge nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a multi-element mineral powder and a far infrared radiation emitting powder in the nozzle main body and/or the pin bodies, wherein the far infrared radiation emitting powder is formed by pulverization of a far infrared radiation emitting material.
 5. A hairdryer discharge nozzle for a hairdryer, wherein the hairdryer includes a heater arranged in a blown air pathway extending from an air inlet port to an air-supplying port, and wherein the hairdryer further comprises an ion blown air pathway branching from the blown air pathway and having a plasma ion generator, the hairdryer discharge nozzle comprising: a nozzle main body comprising a nozzle flow path extending from a nozzle inlet port to a nozzle discharge port, wherein the nozzle inlet port is configured to be releasably attached to the air-supplying port of the hairdryer; a plurality of pin bodies protrudingly arranged at the nozzle discharge port, wherein the pin bodies are arranged in an air discharge direction so as to protrude from the nozzle discharge port, and wherein pin bodies include distal tips configured to contact a user's scalp; and an ion blown air nozzle pathway in the nozzle main body and having an ion blown air nozzle discharge port, wherein the ion blown air nozzle pathway is configured to be releasably attached to an ion blown air-supplying port at an end of the ion blown air pathway of the hairdryer, and wherein the ion blown air nozzle pathway is configured such that air discharged from the ion blown air nozzle port flows in the same direction as air discharged from the nozzle discharge port; and wherein the hairdryer discharge nozzle is configured to be releasably attached to the air-supplying port.
 6. The hairdryer discharge nozzle of claim 1 wherein at least one of the pin bodies includes a pin-internal air pathway extending through an interior of the pin body, and wherein the pin-internal air pathway is configured to receive air from the nozzle discharge port and discharge air through a pin body supply air hole at a distal tip portion of the pin-internal air pathway.
 7. The hairdryer discharge nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a multi-element mineral powder in the nozzle main body and/or the pin bodies, wherein the multi-element mineral powder is formed by pulverization of a multi-element mineral.
 8. The hairdryer discharge nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a multi-element mineral powder and a far infrared radiation emitting powder in the nozzle main body and/or the pin bodies, wherein the far infrared radiation emitting powder is formed by pulverization of a far infrared radiation emitting material. 